Methods and reagents for treating honeybees for parasitic mites

Abstract

The invention provides controlled release compositions for treatment of parasitic mites in honeybees, the compositions composed of a covalently crosslinked polymer gel and an active agent that includes a salt of formic acid. The invention also provides methods for controlling parasitic mites in honeybees, the methods involving treating the honeybees with a controlled release composition composed a covalently crosslinked polymer gel and an active agent that includes a salt of formic acid. The invention further provides a kit for treatment of parasitic mites in honeybees, the kit including an envelope that contains a controlled release composition of the invention. Optionally, the active agent can include formic acid.

1. A controlled release composition for treatment of honeybees, the composition comprising a covalently crosslinked polymer gel and an active agent comprising a salt of formic acid. 
   
   
     2. The controlled release composition according to  claim 1  wherein the active agent further comprises formic acid. 
   
   
     3. The controlled release composition according to  claim 2  wherein the formic acid is present in an amount in the range of 1% to 70% by weight, based upon the weight of the composition. 
   
   
     4. The controlled release composition according to  claim 1  wherein the covalently crosslinked polymer gel is comprised of crosslinked polyacrylic acid or a copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic acid. 
   
   
     5. The controlled release composition according to  claim 1  wherein the salt of formic acid is sodium formate. 
   
   
     6. The controlled release composition according to  claim 1  wherein the salt of formic acid is present in an amount in the range of 1% to 50% by weight, based upon the weight of the composition. 
   
   
     7. The controlled release composition according to  claim 1  further comprising a support material associated with the crosslinked polymer gel. 
   
   
     8. The controlled release composition according to  claim 7  wherein the support material comprises a fibrous material. 
   
   
     9. The controlled release composition according to  claim 8  wherein the fibrous material comprises nonwoven high-density polyethylene. 
   
   
     10. The controlled release composition according to  claim 1  wherein the crosslinked polymer gel includes a crosslinking agent selected from N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide, N,N-(1,2, dihydroxyethylene) bisacrylamide, 3-(acryloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
     11. The controlled release composition according to  claim 1  wherein the gel further comprises a releasing agent. 
   
   
     12. The controlled release composition according to  claim 11  wherein the releasing agent is a nonvolatile acid. 
   
   
     13. The controlled release composition according to  claim 12  wherein the nonvolatile acid is selected from malic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
     14. A method for controlling parasitic mites in honeybees, the method comprising treating the honeybees with a controlled release composition comprising a covalently crosslinked polymer gel and an active agent comprising a salt of formic acid. 
   
   
     15. The method according to  claim 14  wherein the active agent further comprises formic acid. 
   
   
     16. The method according to  claim 15  wherein the treating comprises delivering the active agent at an effective dose over a period of at least one honeybee brood cycle. 
   
   
     17. The method according to  claim 14  wherein the step of treating the honeybees comprises placing the covalently crosslinked polymer gel in proximity to a honeybee hive so that the honeybee hive is exposed to formic acid vapors in a concentration sufficient to control the parasitic mites. 
   
   
     18. The method according to  claim 14  wherein the covalently crosslinked polymer gel is comprised of crosslinked polyacrylic acid or a copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic acid. 
   
   
     19. The method according to  claim 14  wherein the salt of formic acid is sodium formate. 
   
   
     20. The method according to  claim 14  wherein to salt of formic acid is present in an amount in the range of 1% to 50% by weight, based upon the weight of the controlled release composition. 
   
   
     21. The method according to  claim 14  wherein the treating comprises delivering the active agent at an effective dose over a period of at least one honeybee brood cycle. 
   
   
     22. The method according to  claim 14  wherein the crosslinked polymer gel includes a crosslinking agent selected from N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide, N,N-(1,2-dihydroxyethylene) bisacrylamide, 3-(acryloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
     23. A kit for treatment of parasitic mites in honeybees, the kit comprising an envelope containing a controlled release composition comprising a covalently crosslinked polymer gel and an active agent comprising a salt of formic acid, formic acid, or a combination of a salt of formic acid and formic acid. 
   
   
     24. The kit according to  claim 23  wherein the envelope is fabricated from a hydrophobic porous material. 
   
   
     25. The kit according to  claim 24  wherein the hydrophobic porous material is a nonwoven polyolefin. 
   
   
     26. The kit according to  claim 25  wherein the nonwoven polyolefin is a high-density polyethylene material. 
   
   
     27. The kit according to  claim 23  further comprising a support material associated with the controlled release composition within the envelope. 
   
   
     28. The kit according to  claim 23  further comprising an outer packaging. 
   
   
     29. A controlled release composition for treatment of honeybees for parasitic mites, the composition comprising a covalently crosslinked polymer gel that releases formic acid vapors. 
   
   
     30. The controlled release composition according to  claim 29  wherein the covalently crosslinked polymer gel includes an active agent comprising formic acid, a salt of formic acid, or a combination of formic acid and a salt of formic acid. 
   
   
     31. A method for making a non-flowable polymeric gel for controlled release of formic acid vapors, the method comprising polymerizing one or more monomers in the presence of one or more active agents and one or more crosslinking agents to form a covalently crosslinked polymer gel that includes the active agents, wherein the one or more active agents comprise formic acid, a salt of formic acid, or a combination of formic acid and a salt of formic acid. 
   
   
     32. The method according to  claim 31  wherein the one or more monomers are selected from acrylic acid, maleic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic anhydride, acrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylic acid, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, hydroxyethylacrylate, and combinations of any of these. 
   
   
     33. The method according to  claim 31  wherein the one or more crosslinking agents are selected from N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide, N,N′-(1,2-dihydroxyethylene)bisacrylamide, 3-(acryloyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, and combinations of any of these.